How to Stop Dirt From Filling a Driveway Drain

If your driveway doesn’t slope away from the house and there is no drain, you could have water damage to your foundation.

A driveway drain, often called a trench drain, stops rainwater and water from sprinklers from flooding the driveway and possibly your house. The drain is the width of the driveway and redirects water to lower ground. It's covered with a grate to stop leaves and debris from going inside. If too much dirt fills the drain through the grate, the water will not drain from the surface.

1

Detach the grate with a screwdriver. Remove any dirt that has already washed down under the grate. Use an industrial vacuum or a wet-dry vac. This should be done periodically to eliminate the possibility of clogs.

2

Use a broom and dustpan or a wet-dry vac to collect the dirt and debris near your drain after a storm. Don't use your garden hose to wash debris into the driveway drain.

3

Insert garden or landscape edging if there is an unlandscaped dirt area nearby. This will ensure the dirt doesn't wash over to the driveway. Plant grass or vegetation close to the edge as a precautionary measure. If the area near driveway is already landscaped, make sure there is no loose dirt at the edge that will run off. Run edging down the length of the entire driveway if you think there is potential for problems.

4

Buy some woven wire mesh to cover the grate. The mesh can be screwed in place or adhered with outdoor adhesive. The mesh should be the finest you can find. Of course, some dirt will still enter the drain, but not as much as if the grate was unprotected.

Things You Will Need

Screwdriver

Wet-dry vacuum

Broom

Dustpan

Garden edging

Tip

Border your landscaping with bricks if you like that look better than edging.

If you add screening, clean the dirt that collects on top of it from time to time.

Warning

You should still maintain the drain periodically, especially after a hard rain or a snow melt.